Would you let your child skip a grade?

Question

My child is at the top of his class the school approached me and my boyfriend about skipping a grade were conflicted what if we did it and I child no longer excelled because the bigger kids intimidated him.What would you do?

Answer 1

I will tell you what I did do. My daughter was the top in her grade, and in third grade, they wanted me to let them move her up. I thought about it for a long time, and I came up with the fact that right now, she feels really smart and if I put her in a higher grade, what if she struggles and then gives up? Only being in grade school, this can make them hate school for life. So I chose not to. I just let them put her in the gifted math and reading class. So she still has her basics that she does with her friends, but once a week she has the gifted that teaches her more intense lessons. It is working out great. I even had people tell me that I should not want to hold my daughter back, and if she can be in a higher grade I should let her. But she has had the same friends since kindergarten, and she is really happy. So I talked to her about it, and we wrote down the pros and cons, and we really had to think on the pros, because the cons out weighed the pros. Good luck though, and if you decide to let him, then I wish him the best.

Answer 2

No I wouldnt do that and here is my reasoning for it: If you let them go ahead a class then when they are teens all there friends are going to be older than them - then they will be doing things they should not be doing yet. Also they will go to college way tooo young to be on thier own.

Answer 3

Is your child still going to be at the top of the next class up?

If so, I would consider it. My parents wouldn't, and I spent most of my school years quite literally bored to tears.

Another consideration would be how socially mature and physically large your child is. Are they only a few weeks too young for the older grade anyway and as big as half the other kids, or is it the best part of a year and they're six inches shorter than anyone else? My son is in the second category, and what we're doing is moving him to a more academic school, so he can be with kids who are his own age and at his academic standard. He's only in the year he is by a few days and because he was born early, and he's short for his age, so putting him with kids lots of whom are almost two years older and a foot taller really isn't an option.

Answer 4

Its up to his ability yes! but does he want to move up, is he enjoying his friends.?Moving up also means leaving friendships behind even if they do see each other in the school yard. That would be my first concern

Answer 5

Ask him what he wants to do and what makes him comfortable?  Maybe he has friends and he is happy...would rather stay where he is.  Or maybe the idea of moving forward will be exciting to him.  Either way I think he should be on board before it happens.  That can be scary for kids and it will change his whole life.

Answer 6

Don't skip a grade! What has your boyfriend got to do with it?  Support your child, she sounds tops to me!

Answer 7

If he wanted to, I would let him. Ask him if he would be afraid to go with the bigger kids, if so, then don't. If he's okay with it, then go for it.

Answer 8

Really depends on the child.  If the child is mature enough to handle the new situations that will occur in a grade above, then I would probably say yes.  but if the child is not mature enough and really likes the class he/she is in, and fits in well with the other children then NO, I would not push them.

Answer 9

ask the kid

Answer 10

Yes, it's a good thing. Your child is smart and thats really good to hear someone suggesting that your child should skip a grade.    

He/she will make friends with the older kids, there even probably

be a kid from his grade that skipped also!

Answer 11

Ask your child what he wants to do, if he wants to I would encourage it.

Answer 12

Yes do it.  There's no point to waste time on a lower level than your child.

Answer 13

Well that is hard because growing up around older kids might hurt her socail wise but being in a upper class might heelp her school wise. You have to think what is best for your child. Try her in the upper grade and if she is getting picked on and made fun of and is not doing well in school put her back in her lower grade where she used to be. But if it helps her in school in the upper grade keep her there. Or you might want to see if maybe you could keep her in the class she is in now and just get her the work of the upper grade. That way she is with kids she knows and is still doing well in school. Hope this helped a little bit!

Answer 14

There are pros and cons. I wouldn't because the child is going to be out of place amongst their peers. School is not only education on knowledge, but also education on ways to interact with people around you. At least the child will be amongst other children of the same age if they don't skip.

Answer 15

no I let him stay in his appropriate grade so he could be with kids his age............he loves it

Answer 16

Making the right decision about grade skipping requires a parent to answer a lot of questions honestly. Is your child mature enough to handle both the advanced information and to interact successfully at a higher grade level? How are you going to feel when your child is exposed to social topics of older children such as s*x, drugs and dating? How will your child feel when confronted with these topics ... comfortable, embarrassed, influenced

My daughter skipped kindergarten and high school. She now has years to hang out and have fun because she skipped grades. She does not define people by age, but recognizes their individual contributions as people. Not sitting in a classroom for the entire teen years has helped her become a more healthy individual. She entirely skipped teen angst, peer pressure, drugs, violence and avoided kids who were having problems in those areas, but at the same time got to participate in extracurricular activities with her age peers in soccer, dance, music and other group/club activities. Skipping grades helped her think about her career goals at an earlier age and exposed her to many more possibilities.

Social pressure is the greatest con of grade skipping. Everyone has an opinion and many times those with the strongest opinions have never had any experience with grade skipping or known anyone who has grade skipped. Strangely, battling opinions of those not involved is the hardest part of the process. Also, school systems are not thrilled about skipping grades. They, many times, strongly believe in keeping kids on one track ... k-12. Here are arguments some schools use to stop you from grade skipping:

1. Your child is not socially mature enough to enter the next grade level.

2. Although your child may be socially mature enough now, he or she will have trouble when he/she gets older and other kids start physically maturing.

3. Kids at this age tend to even out by middle/high school.

4. Skipping a grade will hurt your child socially.

Answer 17

I skipped first grade and . I was in a combo first and second grade class, which made it easier.

I  have excelled, im in advanced classes and took algebra in seventh grade and im doing fine. my friends are all taller then me, but i dont really mind.you get used to it kinda.i also started early, so i left 8th grade when i was only 12 years old

do what you think is best!!

i have alot of friends and are not picked on or anything

most people wont even guess unless you told them.. they just think your short

Answer 18

Absolutely not. They wouldn't be with their friends in their own class anymore, and they would miss out on a year of social development and academics.

Answer 19

A few things to consider:

As a male child this does make a little bit of a difference, thier success in the future and security becomes and issue.

1. will they suddenly become the youngest and smallest guy in the class?

2. Will they be forced to advance socially to fit in with the "older kids"?  They can be brilliant but not emotionally ready for some of the concepts that the peers are dealing with.

3. When will they drive? Waiting for Junior or Senior year to drive can be tough on the kids confidence.

4. Would you rather your child be a leader or a standard student?  If he has to be given additional tasks but can maintain his leadership than it could be great, however you don't want them to get bored! Boredom leads to trouble.

I hope this helps. Best of luck and congrats on the little prodigy! Michele

Answer 20

NO NO AND NO.  My daughter was born Aug 2 which meant she had to wait until she was 6 to start kindergarten even though she was already at the same level as the ones who were 5, we fought and tried to get her in that year but in our state the cut off is Aug1 no exceptions.  The next year when she started kindergarten she was way ahead of the others and when she went in to 1st grade she was doing the work of a 2nd grader.  At the end of the year they wanted to move her to third instead of second.  That would have meant making all new friends and starting over, not to mention she would have the label of smart and teachers would always expect her to perform at a higher level.  She is now a Freshman and although at times she wishes she was a sophmore she is glad she isnt because she didnt have all the pressure on her.  She is an honor student and personally I think keeping her with the class she started with will give her a heads up on college apps and scholorships.

Answer 21

my mother had the opportunity to skip me a grade and i also had the chance to skip my son.  we both did not and it is for the best.  there is a big difference in what is being taught in each grade.  if he skips a grade then he might miss somthing that he needs for the grade he has moved to.  then because he doesnt know that he will fall behind.  i think it is best to let a child go through school at the normal rate.

Answer 22

The alternative is that your child may no longer be challenged and become bored with school.  I have a high IQ and excelled in school, but I would become bored with my classes and my grades would slip if I was not challenged enough.  I even encountered this problem with my college courses.  Speak with your child and see what they may or may not prefer to do at this time.  This may be something to consider down the road if your child is relatively young.

Answer 23

I would not have my child skip a grade. My middle son is in 5th grade and gets straight A's. If they asked for him to skip a grade I would say no. I am happy with him doing great right where he is. Why send him ahead where he might struggle and end up falling behind or like you said be intimidated by older bigger kids. Also I know my son would't want to skip ahead and not be with all his friends that he has been with since kindergarten.

My son is mature for his age and I still wouldn't let him skip. My son is confident right now and feels great about himself. I wouldn't want to risk losing that. I think skipped a grade would put preasure on a child to "measure up" and could hurt their self esteem.

Answer 24

Personally, no ... If I felt that my child was being insufficiently stimulated, I'd look for a school that could better handle his needs.

Answer 25

no because the child might be mentally able to but not socialy.Plus why would you want to take him out of school with his friends.In the older grade he could get amde fun of or be bullied.